Recognizing this progress, the White House announced the formation of a new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, which will meet next week. The subcommittee’s primary objective is to “leverage AI for public good and toward a more effective government” by exploring the field’s recent progress and milestones, wrote Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer Ed Felten in a blog post on Tuesday. Furthermore, by monitoring technological developments in the public and private sectors, both domestically and internationally, the Federal Government hopes to coordinate itself within the AI and machine learning space.

In addition to developing the government’s relationship with AI, the White House will also help proffer a more informed and engaged public. Beginning at the end of this month and running into July, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will offer four workshops on AI and machine learning to encourage public dialogue and identify obstacles and opportunities related to the technology. Co-hosted by academic and non-profit organizations, with the help of the National Economic Council, the workshops will cover the implications of AI on law, governance, safety, control, the economy, and social good. The Administration hopes to publish a public report by the end of the year.

Where the workshops will help spur public discourse – and, hopefully, awareness – in the implications of AI’s increasing involvement in our lives, the NTSC subcommittee will “work to increase the use of AI and machine learning to improve delivery of government services,” including “empowering Federal departments and agencies to run pilot projects evaluating new AI-driven approaches and government investment in research on how to use AI to make government services more effective.” The NTSC group will make special considerations regarding applications of the technology to services that are not typically technology-driven.

Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change our lives and how we live them. From the development of smart cities and smart homes to health and transportation services, AI and machine learning has the potential to alter and improve the way society functions on macro and micro scales. However, rapid progress leaves room for unexpected consequences, both good and bad.

During an interview at the AeroAstro Centennial Symposium two years ago, Elon Musk said, “I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish.” So, it seems, even one of America’s most recognized entrepreneurs perhaps counter-intuitively supports government involvement. Thus, the Administration may be late to class but the lesson has just begun.

On Monday, The White House announced plans to co-host four upcoming public workshops on various AI topics to "spur public dialogue on artificial intelligence and machine learning and identify challenges and opportunities related to this emerging technology." Spearheaded by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the workshops will be rolled out over the next few months (May to July) and will cover topics including implications in law and government, as well as the social and economic impacts. Workshop co-hosts include academic and non-profit institutions, as well as the National Economic Council. In addition, a new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) subcommittee on machine learning and artificial intelligence will meet for the first time next week. The NSTC is currently working to leverage AI and machine learning technology in a variety of government services.

A few weeks ago, Chinese software company Baidu released key parts of a key artificial intelligence/ speech recognition algorithm into the realm of open source, following in the footsteps of Facebook and Google last year.

A few weeks ago, Chinese software company Baidu released key parts of a key artificial intelligence/ speech recognition algorithm into the realm of open source, following in the footsteps of Facebook and Google last year.

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